globesports.com: Makeshift Raptors chalk up win
But the lid finally came off the basket in the second.

It coincided with the return to the court of Garbajosa, a starter for most of last season who has seen his playing time wither as he recovers from a broken leg suffered last March and as the competition on the roster for playing time has increased.

Reports in the Spanish media had Garbajosa frustrated about his lack of playing time — twice in the past three games, he never left the bench. But with struggling Bargnani out after picking up three fouls in five minutes Garbajosa got the call and responded with two three-pointers in the second quarter. He had eight points, six rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes, all season bests.

But despite the positive outing, Garbajosa said he wasn’t motivated to try to prove any doubters wrong.

“I have been playing for a long, long time,” he said. “I don’t have to convince anybody. I’m just trying to fight every day in practice to try and earn some more minutes to play, and my coaches have to decide who plays.”

He was on the floor for nearly the entire fourth quarter as the Raptors worked to hold on to an 81-74 third quarter lead after trailing by three at the half.